Coincidence

Nothing happened that night.

The next day.

Morning.

Xu Qing got up early. He took off the Ghost Mask, gaining another four hundred and eighty experience points. He was still quite a ways from leveling up.

After a night's rest, the backlash symptoms from yesterday's Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique had completely healed.

"Upgrade the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."

Xu Qing said.

Buzz!

The next moment.

Xu Qing's mind trembled, and his consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space. Within that mysterious space, he could not feel the passage of time as he devoted himself entirely to comprehending and deducing the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique.

Before he knew it.

Boom!

Xu Qing opened his eyes. A vast amount of information and knowledge surged into his mind, and the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique underwent an entirely new transformation upon its original foundation.

Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV2: 0/20 (A blood curse secret art recorded in a book of chaotic graffiti through a special arrangement and method of notation. After mastering this blood curse secret art, one can condense a 'Beast Taming Blood Curse' to command different beasts. Currently, two beast pets can be commanded at once.)

It could be seen.

With only one level gained, the changes did not seem particularly great.

However.

The Level 1 Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique could only command one beast pet, while the LV2 Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique could command two beast pets at once, doubling the number.

Of course.

Its commanding and control effects had naturally improved as well.

Morning.

Xu Qing left the city again and headed to White Dwarf Mountain. He found the same ant nest as yesterday and, just as before, began using ants to farm experience for the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique.

In the blink of an eye.

An hour later.

Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV2: 10/20

His experience had increased by ten points.

Xu Qing killed ten ants and suffered the backlash of the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique ten times before he could no longer endure it. He had reached his limit again and could only return.

After returning.

Xu Qing began practicing the Eight Extremities Fist.

Experience +1

Experience +1

At dusk.

Yu Hu came to Xu Qing's residence. Xu Qing continued teaching Yu Hu the Eight Extremities Fist and also asked about the Shaman Evil Ghost. For now, the Shaman Evil Ghost had not discovered anything wrong with Yu Hu.

Night.

Xu Qing began practicing the Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking in the courtyard.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye.

Seven days later.

This day.

Night.

"Phew..."

Clang!

Xu Qing swiftly sheathed his sword, and a faint sword cry rang out. It was already late. Having finished practicing today's Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking, he planned to return and rest.

Over these seven days.

First.

Xu Qing had practiced the Eight Extremities Fist day and night.

Eight Extremities Fist LV7: 455/640

It's almost time to level up.

Xu Qing thought to himself, In another three or four days, it should level up. By then, the LV8 Eight Extremities Fist will surely allow me to step into the realm of Transforming Force.

Serpent Evasion Technique (Incomplete) LV5: 0/80

Although Xu Qing spent little time practicing the Serpent Evasion Technique, movement techniques were also crucial martial arts, so he had still raised it to LV5.

Good enough was enough.

Azure Hawk Claw Force Level 1: 1/20

Xu Qing had not practiced this martial art at all, much less upgraded it. He had simply left the Azure Hawk Claw Force sitting off to the side gathering dust, with no plans to cultivate it into Hidden Force yet.

Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking LV2: 40/60

The Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking was also a little short. He estimated it would take only another four or five days.

Ghost Mask LV10: 1760/5120 (A terrifying mask containing an evil ghost, an eerie mask refined by a shaman who worshipped ghosts and gods using eighteen living people. The mask devoured the shaman's soul and fused with the resentful souls of eighteen living people, ultimately becoming a Shaman Evil Ghost. This gave the Ghost Mask strange spirituality: not only could it disguise one's appearance and alter one's aura, it could also change one's body and outward form, and even summon the Shaman Evil Ghost.)

"The Ghost Mask has already reached LV10."

Xu Qing pondered. "Just like before, after the iron sword reached LV10, it could still be upgraded. But because my cultivation is insufficient, once it upgrades, the LV11 iron sword will give birth to true spirituality, creating a situation beyond my control and perhaps even causing backlash."

"Even a weapon like an iron sword can potentially backlash against me, let alone an eerie object like the Ghost Mask. If it truly rises to LV11, I will definitely suffer backlash."

Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV4: 20/80 (Originally only a fairly ordinary prerequisite ability for a Rune Beast Master, it underwent an immense transformation after repeated deductions. It can command eight beast pets at once and can even borrow the power of beast pets.)

"These are the changes I've had over the past few days."

Xu Qing pondered. "Unfortunately, I still haven't entered Transforming Force. But it will happen soon, within these next few days. Besides, I have enough money in hand, so I no longer need to take risks to obtain silver. I can improve slowly."

"Hmm?"

Suddenly.

The very next moment.

Because of the Ghost Mask, Xu Qing had gained control over it and could thus vaguely sense the Shaman Evil Ghost. Now, he sensed an unusual movement from the Shaman Evil Ghost.

"Has he finally been exposed?"

Xu Qing said gravely.

Seven days had passed.

During these seven or eight days, Xu Qing had kept the Shaman Evil Ghost following Yu Hu. Nothing had happened all this time, and he had even begun to think it was merely his imagination.

Until tonight, there was finally movement on Yu Hu's side.

"There really is something going on."

Without hesitation.

Xu Qing put on the Ghost Mask.

Buzz!

The Ghost Mask's ability activated. Xu Qing's appearance changed, and in an instant, he became a burly middle-aged man carrying a sword on his back.

"Go."

Whoosh!

Xu Qing used the Serpent Evasion Technique and swiftly departed.

One had to know.

The place Yu Chen rented was already very close to Xu Qing's residence, less than a hundred meters away. Thus, Xu Qing arrived in the shortest possible time.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Inside the house.

Yu Chen and his wife, Wang Cuilan, were still asleep. Moreover, their sleep was somewhat abnormal—they had been knocked unconscious by an illusion technique.

In another bedroom.

Yu Hu stood upright. At his neck, a wooden plaque floated into the air, releasing waves of demonic mist and black qi.

The next moment.

That demonic mist and black qi condensed into a graceful figure within the room. Yet the figure was rather illusory and not fully real, its feet not touching the ground, like a ghost.

Crack!

After that graceful figure condensed, the wooden plaque hanging around Yu Hu's neck shattered, turning into ash that scattered through the air.

"Ha ha ha..."

The graceful figure laughed, her laughter incomparably sinister as waves of cold ghostly qi spread out. "It took this deviless a full eight days to drain all the yin qi from this piece of Extreme Yin Wood."

"As expected of Extreme Yin Wood. Such a tiny piece contained such dense yin qi that my demonic soul has finally stabilized completely."

Clearly.

This graceful figure was Qing Lian, the Blood Demon Desire Woman who had not completely died. The authorities had also been searching everywhere for the whereabouts of Qing Lian, the Blood Demon Desire Woman, but they had found no leads.

Who could have imagined.

Qing Lian had abandoned her physical body and refined herself into a demonic soul. She had originally been on the verge of having her soul scatter and vanish, yet she had unexpectedly encountered Yu Hu, who happened to wear a wooden plaque made from Extreme Yin Wood.

Under this series of coincidences.

The authorities failed to capture Qing Lian, but she instead ran into Xu Qing.

"Little Hu."

Qing Lian licked her lips and looked Yu Hu up and down, like a hungry wolf seeing the most delicious food imaginable, drooling with desire.

"To repay you for saving my life, this deviless will let you experience what paradise on earth truly is tonight. Die in my embrace amid boundless bliss and pleasure."

Buzz!

As soon as she finished speaking.

Qing Lian's demonic soul stirred.

The next moment.

Qing Lian was about to pounce on Yu Hu like a hungry tiger leaping upon its prey.

Boom!

At the critical moment.

Xu Qing had already arrived. The Shaman Evil Ghost had also received Xu Qing's command and swiftly manifested. With a sweep of her right hand, she formed a ribbon of black qi and sent Qing Lian flying.

"Aah!!!"

A shrill scream rang out.

"Who?!"

Qing Lian looked horrified. She swiftly turned and saw the Shaman Evil Ghost not far away, causing even her demonic soul to become unstable.

"An... an evil ghost..."

Qing Lian's voice trembled.

"Escape!!!"

Buzz!

Without hesitation.

Qing Lian had no intention of fighting whatsoever. She transformed into a wisp of green smoke, swiftly slipped out of the bedroom, and fled outside.

One had to know.

This was an evil ghost, a genuine evil ghost. Unless Qing Lian were at her peak, she could naturally suppress it. But she was currently nothing more than a demonic soul. Upon encountering an evil ghost, she could only become its food.

"Evil-Breaking Slash!"

Clang!

Along with the cry of a sword.

Xu Qing locked onto Qing Lian's position. The LV10 Iron Sword in his hand came down as he unleashed an exceptionally fierce sword technique.

"!!!"

Qing Lian screamed as her demonic soul was cleaved into two and sent flying far away. The demonic soul, which had been split in half, slowly fused back together.

However.

The body of her demonic soul became even more transparent.

"You... who are you?"

Qing Lian's pupils contracted as she stared at Xu Qing, especially when she saw the terrifying evil ghost standing respectfully beside him. Her expression became incomparably ugly.

"A Demonic Dao Ghost Cultivator?"

Qing Lian could not help asking again, "Which sect or school are you from? Why are you opposing me? I am the Blood Demon Desire Woman of the Blood Demon Cult. Are you not afraid of the Blood Demon Cult's retaliation?"

At this critical moment.

With her life at stake.

Qing Lian had long since lost her usual composure. Faced with such circumstances, she could only announce her identity in hopes of frightening Xu Qing away, at least giving herself a chance to survive.

"So you're the Blood Demon Desire Woman."

A hint of surprise appeared on Xu Qing's face as he examined Qing Lian. "I never expected the mastermind wanted throughout Qingbei Town to be someone I would encounter."

"Wait..."

Suddenly.

A flash of insight struck Qing Lian's mind. She recalled the information Ye Yi had reported earlier, which included the sudden appearance of a swordsmanship master on Hongye Street.

That information matched the person before her extremely well.

"It's you!"

Qing Lian made her deduction and understood. "You're that mysterious swordsmanship master from Hongye Street. Who exactly are you? From beginning to end, I never offended you."